Marie and Rosetta - Yellowtree Theatre - April 2026

Marie and Rosetta

Program Cover

By George Brant

Review By Ernest Edwards

Marie and Rosetta raises the roof at Yellowtree Theatre with this story of some of Gospel’s greats. 

Marie and Rosetta is a wonderful story to be told. The intimate stage at Yellowtree Theatre is the perfect venue for this play. I had first seen the play at Park Square Theatre back in November of 2018. It is very nice to revisit this wonderful slice of history after many years. 

The play focuses on a rehearsal for an upcoming concert in Mississippi in 1946. It’s the first time that Sister Rosetta Tharpe and her protege Marie Knight perform together. Sister Rosetta Tharpe has been nicknamed the Godmother of Rock-N-Roll. You can see her musical influences in musicians such as Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jimmy Hendrix and Ray Charles.  

Yellowtree has cast Adair Gilliam as Sister Rosetta Tharpe, and Chaz Shermil Hodges as Marie Knight.

From the online program

 These two actresses have such great voices. It makes me want to listen to more gospel music. 

The characters can sing, play piano and Sister Rosetta Tharpe is well versed in both the guitar and an electric guitar.  

The scenery is designed by Sarah Brandner, with costumes designed by Samantha Fromm Haddow. The sound was amazing for this production. I remember Marie and Rosetta was delayed a season as Yellowtree had to replace their sound system. Let me tell you. It was worth the wait! 

The scenery is that of a funeral parlor. As we learn from the play. Two northern African American artists traveling in the South in the 1940’s, could not get accommodations at hotels and had to go with what they could. They also had hired a white driver, so he could go into restaurants in the South and get them food. The concert will not be a theater or concert. African American artists had to perform in out of the way venues. Warehouses, etc that were out of sight. Hearing about all of the parts of life that segregation touched on is very eye opening. It was definitely more than just separate restrooms, and water fountains that we see depicted in movies. 

The play is an hour and 40 minutes with no intermission. The music, history and storytelling is so wonderful. The play just flies on by at a good pace. These actresses and the music they perform are so up lifting. The play has a touching full circle moment in the final scene of the play. Yellowtree has an extremely talented cast for Marie and Rosetta.Their performances are not to be missed. 

The play runs through April 19, 2026. Check out www.yellowtreetheatre.com for tickets. 

The stage before the play begins. Photo by Ernest Edwards